London to Winchester

Also, the A3 doesn't actually go to Winchester :-)

The A31 is dual carriageway most of the way but not *that* busy, so it
depends on your tolerance to traffic noise really - it's not my idea of fun
but it is the quickest way from London to Winchester. Minor roads would be
more interesting but slower, of course...

Huw Francis

"Gunwin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello

I was hoping to cycle to Winchester on Saturday morning from Balham in
SW London. I'm aware that the A3 is hostile and virtually a motorway,
and wondered if anyone could recommend an alternative route,
especially beyond the M25.

And does anyone know what it's like to cycle the A31?

Any help much appreciated. I only took up cycling a month ago and am
already setting off on ludicrous journeys.

Gunwin

On 31 Aug 2004 10:24:00 -0700, [email hidden] (Gunwin) wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I was hoping to cycle to Winchester on Saturday morning from Balham in
SW London.

"Balham, Gateway to the South."

The old A30 is usable for at least part of its length, having ridden
bits of it.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Gunwin said:

Hello

I was hoping to cycle to Winchester on Saturday morning from Balham in
SW London. I'm aware that the A3 is hostile and virtually a motorway,
and wondered if anyone could recommend an alternative route,
especially beyond the M25.

And does anyone know what it's like to cycle the A31?

The A3 doesn't go within 20 miles of Winchester and the A31 along much
of its length is dual carriageway and quite scary for all but the most
foolhardy.

One easy to remember route would be the A30 to Basingstoke (via
Hounslow, Feltham and Staines) and then old A33 from there. But take a
list of villages/towns and follow your nose, investigating country
lanes! (Weybridge, West Byfleet, Farnborough, Fleet, Basingstoke,
Micheldever, Winchester - which is also more or less then train line
back to Waterloo in case you get too tired 🙂

Gunwin said:

And does anyone know what it's like to cycle the A31?

I wouldn't like to cycle the A31, it is a busy road with fast traffic.

Once you get to Alton I would recommend taking to minor roads just north
of the A31 through Medstead, Bighton, Old Alresford, Itchen Stoke,
Itchen Abbas, Martyr Worthy and King's Worthy.

There are some nice minor roads across country from Fleet to the
Medstead/Alton area, although the countryside is a bit lumpy around
there, you are going across the 'grain' of the land that way.

I wouldn't be keen to ride the A30 from outside the M25 towards
BIackwater/Fleet either, although I've never had a need to cycle through
that area. I can't advise on anything closer to London. To be honest I
would take the train from London to somewhere like Fleet and ride from
there.

Quoted message said:

Any help much appreciated. I only took up cycling a month ago and am
already setting off on ludicrous journeys.

Hope you find a suitable route and have a good ride.

Mike

you know? said:

On 31 Aug 2004 10:24:00 -0700, [email hidden] (Gunwin) wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I was hoping to cycle to Winchester on Saturday morning from Balham in
SW London.

"Balham, Gateway to the South."

The old A30 is usable for at least part of its length, having ridden
bits of it.

I'd agree with this. I'd take the B3046 from Basingstoke. Avoid the A31.

--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't
it." -Groucho Marx
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Mike K Smith said:

Once you get to Alton I would recommend taking to minor roads just
north of the A31 through Medstead, Bighton, Old Alresford, Itchen
Stoke, Itchen Abbas, Martyr Worthy and King's Worthy.

Yes, nice roads. But, as you say, somewhat unflat in places :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington
University

Mike K Smith said:

Once you get to Alton I would recommend taking to minor roads just
north of the A31 through Medstead, Bighton, Old Alresford, Itchen
Stoke, Itchen Abbas, Martyr Worthy and King's Worthy.

Lovely roads round there, lots of Audaxes take these in.

Mike K Smith said:

I wouldn't be keen to ride the A30 from outside the M25 towards
BIackwater/Fleet either, although I've never had a need to cycle through
that area.

This section of the A30 really isn't a problem. There isn't that much
traffic on it.

--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Michael MacClancy said:

Mike K Smith said:

I wouldn't be keen to ride the A30 from outside the M25 towards
BIackwater/Fleet either, although I've never had a need to cycle through
that area.

This section of the A30 really isn't a problem. There isn't that much
traffic on it.

Obviously this is a matter of personal belief and preference so there is
no point in me disagreeing with you.
However, I drive the A30 between Blackwater and Basingstoke quite
frequently, and the density, speed and behaviour of the traffic are such
that I do not like cycling on it.

Just me said:

Also, the A3 doesn't actually go to Winchester :-)

But it could constitute the first 1/3 of the journey.

Just zis Guy said:

The old A30 is usable for at least part of its length, having ridden
bits of it.

Thanks - bit further north than my direct route but could well be
worth the diversion.

Quoted message said:

"Gunwin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello

I was hoping to cycle to Winchester on Saturday morning from Balham in
SW London. I'm aware that the A3 is hostile and virtually a motorway,
and wondered if anyone could recommend an alternative route,
especially beyond the M25.

And does anyone know what it's like to cycle the A31?

Any help much appreciated. I only took up cycling a month ago and am
already setting off on ludicrous journeys.

Gunwin

Mike K Smith said:

Michael MacClancy said:

Mike K Smith said:

I wouldn't be keen to ride the A30 from outside the M25 towards
BIackwater/Fleet either, although I've never had a need to cycle through
that area.

This section of the A30 really isn't a problem. There isn't that much
traffic on it.

Obviously this is a matter of personal belief and preference so there is
no point in me disagreeing with you.
However, I drive the A30 between Blackwater and Basingstoke quite
frequently, and the density, speed and behaviour of the traffic are such
that I do not like cycling on it.

Interesting. Don't forget the OP want to do it on the weekend. I've
cycled on that stretch both in the week and on weekends and found it much
quieter than I expected. I did the cycle leg of a duathlon on the bit
between Blackbushe and Winchfield last Monday (BH) and didn't really notice
any traffic at all (although that may have been because I was focussing on
cycling quickly).
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "His mother should have thrown him away and kept the
stork." - Mae West
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk